Mosquitoes and ticks are more than just a nuisance
Getting outdoors to enjoy the summer, exercise, attend events, and visit our parks and trails are all important to our physical and emotional health. Unfortunately, with the warm weather comes an increase in tick and mosquito populations.
While most insect bites are more of an annoyance than a health risk, some mosquitoes and ticks common in Ohio can carry diseases. The most common disease spread by ticks in Ohio is Lyme disease. The number of diagnosed cases of Lyme disease has been on the rise across the state, and the number of suspected but unconfirmed cases has risen even faster. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Ehrlichiosis are the 2nd and 3rd most common tick-borne diseases in Ohio.
The most common mosquito-borne diseases in Ohio are West Nile virus and La Crosse virus. Most people who are bitten by an infected mosquito do not experience symptoms or only have mild symptoms like fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting. In some cases, however, these infections can result in hospitalization or even death.
By taking some simple precautions you can reduce the risk of becoming infected by one of these mosquito or tick-borne diseases this summer:
To avoid mosquito bites:
Use EPA-registered repellents when going outdoors according to label instructions.
Wear light-colored clothing, long sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors.
Consider avoiding outdoor activities during peak mosquito biting hours (dusk to dawn).
Mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing, so spraying clothes with an EPA-registered repellent will give extra protection.
Help reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home by emptying standing water on a regular basis from flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, pet water dishes, discarded tires, and bird baths.
To protect yourself from ticks:
Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.
Walk in the center of trails.
Use insect repellents registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) labeled for use against ticks on exposed skin for protection that lasts several hours. Always follow the product label.
Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and tuck shirts into pants to keep ticks on the outside of your clothing.
Light-colored clothing will help you spot ticks more easily.
Check your clothing for ticks. Ticks may be carried into the house on clothing.
If you find a tick attached to your skin, the best way to remove it is to use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible. Pull away from your skin with steady, even pressure. Wash your hands and the bite area with soap and water.
If you have been bitten by a tick, watch for symptoms such as fever/chills, aches and pains, or rash. See your healthcare provider if you experience any of these symptoms.
The Fairfield County Health Department conducts trapping and testing for West Nile virus-infected mosquitoes and conducts mosquito control activities in most of the county’s villages. Visit https://www.fairfieldhealth.org/FDH-Vector-Control.html for more information.
For more information on ticks, mosquitoes, and the diseases they can carry, visit www.odh.ohio.gov/ticks and www.odh.ohio.gov/mosquitoes.
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Mosquitoes and ticks are more than just a nuisance
